Seaside Park Updates Rental Permit Fees, Expects to Adopt Boat Ramp Fee Increase

The 13th Avenue Pier and boat ramp in Seaside Park. (Photo: Shorebeat)

Seaside Park officials are updating several fees for municipal services, having recently adopted a new fee schedule for rental permits and planning to increase the cost of using the borough’s boat ramp for the first time in 15 years.

Rental Permit Fees

Last month, the borough council adopted an ordinance increasing the fee for a seasonal rental permit by $25. All homeowners who rent their properties must undergo an inspection and obtain permits each year prior to the summer season. According to the new fee schedule, those who have their properties inspected on or before May 1 will pay $125; between May 2 and June 1, the fee rises to $175; and June 2 and after, it rises again to $225.

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The borough also raised the cost of annual (year-round) rental permits by $25. The fee will be $125 for properties inspected before March 1 of each year; $175 between March 2 and April 1; and $225 after April 1.

Boat Ramp Fees

Use of the borough’s boat ramp will see a fee increase for the first time in 15 years, council members said, pointing to continued work at the ramp and the increasing cost of labor to run the operation, which has become popular with visitors due to its location near the Route 37 causeway, Tices Shoal and other boating attractions.

Though the fee schedule has not yet been introduced or adopted by ordinance, officials said last week that they expect to raise fees to $150 for a season permit, up from $80 (if obtained before June 14) or $100 (through Labor Day).

“The same fees have been going for 15 years, so we took a look at that and asked whether we should think about increasing those,” said Councilman Joseph Connor. “What we offer there – I know it’s our own boat ramp, but it’s a primo boat ramp. It’s a double ramp, we have a person there watching your trailer. There’s a lot that it offers.”

The ramp has become more popular with residents of neighboring towns in recent years, increasing demand.

“A lot of the feedback was from people saying they come from Toms River and other towns,” said Connor. “It was kind of like a ‘wink-wink’ where they’d say they couldn’t believe it was only $80.”

Commercial marinas often charge several hundred dollars for seasonal trailer access. Unlike many of those businesses, non-motorized vessels such as kayaks, canoes and similar crafts will not be subject to fees.

“When you look around, some people charge for putting in non-trailer boats. We do not charge for that, we only charge for a trailer being towed by a motor vehicle,” said Connor. “Also, other areas charge fees for the trailer, and then something separate.”

The council will also consider adopting an ordinance that allows for a range of fees or incremental increases as costs rise, rather than maintaining the same price for a decade or more and then raising it all at once. Daily use of the boat ramp is currently $30, and there was no discussion as to whether this price should change.

“The staff we’re putting down there, we’re increasing their salaries, and it’s a very safe place,” said Councilwoman Gina Condos. “It’s not hitting the taxpayer – it’s being paid by the people using the service. I don’t know what you can do for $150 for an entire season.”

Condos said if the new fees are to be adopted for this season, they should remain stable for “a few years” before any additional increases are considered.